Electronic synchronizing system



het'. 26, 1937.

EUNTROLLER H; R. BUTLER 2,096,881

ELECTRONIC sYNoHRoNrzING SYSTEM Filed June 9, 1936 l-l-l E L) 6: Q m u: 2S z m D! E u] h-I -l 7 J E 5 n: :l n: D n. l- D E Z D 1 S D! E j Y l 5 g S E l l O IZ Z D L INVENTOR.

Bygmdm A TTORNEY Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES l y i 2,096,881-

ELECTRONIC SYNCHRONEZING `SYSTERE A Henry R. Butler, Verona, N. J., assignor to Wired Radio, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 9, weasel-al1 No. 84,313

3 Claims.

This invention pertains in general to frequency control systems and specically relates to such a system employing electronically controlled circuits.

One of the objects of the invention consists in providing an electronic frequency control system for synchronizing the action of a plurality of sources of alternating current, particularly, though not exclusively, Where one of said sources may be of a frequency different from the other.

A further object' of the invention consists in providing a system for controlling a source of oscillations with oscillations from a different source to produce a controlled frequency.

A still further object of the invention comprises providing a system for mixing frequencies to produce a controlling voltage proportional to the phase difference of the mixed frequencies to maintain the controlled generation of oscillations of a desired frequency.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The invention contemplates the provision of an oscillator to be controlled and another source of controlling oscillations, it being desired to maintain the generated oscillations in strict relationship with the oscillations from the controlling source. In accordance with the invention, the controlled and the controlling oscillations are introduced into a mixing circuit for producing a unidirectional voltage which is proportional to the phase relation between the voltages of the mixed frequencies, and is therefore a resultant of the voltage vectors of such mixed frequencies. This uni-directional voltage is utilized to electronically control the original source of oscillations to produce a sustained frequency having a. definite relationship with the controlling frequency.

Referring to the drawing in detail, there is provided a controlled oscillator I which, in accordance with the invention, provides sustained oscillations to be supplied to a utilization circuit represented by the load 2, and which may include ampliers for amplifying the oscillations. The oscillator I includes an electron tube 3 having a control electrode 4. The electron tube 3 is connected with an oscillation circuit including the inductance 6 and capacitor 8 as shown, the capacitor 8 being connected in series with a resistance 9. Other components of the oscillator unit I are of conventional arrangement for producing sustained oscillations.

The output of the controlled oscillator I is di- (Cl. Z50-36) rected through electronic amplifier lli to one of the electrodes of a multi-electrode electron tube Ii which forms part of a mixer-rectifier l2. A controlling source i3 is connected with another of the electrodes of the tube I I. This controlling source l 3 may be any means for providing oscillations or alternating current of a definite frequency to be: utilized for controlling the frequency of the oscillations produced by the oscillator I. For example, the controlling source i3 may be a source of commercial power such as 6) lcycle 110 volt alternating current, or it may be a crystal controlled oscillator. nected with the cycle alternating current supply, it then includes a frequency multiplier to increase the frequency.V On the other hand, if the source i3 comprises a crystal controlled oscillator, this crystal may be adapted. to operate at a frequency much higher than the frequency of the oscillator I and in this event, a frequency subdivider, such as a multi-vibrator, may be employed to sub-divide the frequency. At all events, and as far as the present invention is concerned, the source I3 comprises a source of sustained oscillations of frequency usually different from the frequency l but having a harmonic relationship with the intended frequency of the oscillations from the source I. Where operating conditions so indicate, the amplilier IU may include a harmonic generation circuit or a frequency sub-divider, such as a multivibrator, to produce the desired oscillation fr equency.

As before stated, the output of the controlling source I3 is connected with another of the controlling electrodes of the tube II. The tube Il includes an output circuit operating Vthrough a transformer lll. The secondary of the transformer I4 includes connections to the anodes of the rectifier tubes I5 and I6, asshown. The cathodes of the rectiers l5 and I6 are interconnected and include a connection through resistor ll to the mid-point of the secondary of the transformer I4. Connections are provided across the resistor Il for a circuit extending to the suppressor electrode of an electron tube I8 forming part of a controller i9. The controller lt pro- Vides means for producing a controlling voltage applied to the controlled oscillator. This voltage is supplied over a circuit including a circuit path extending to the control electrode of tube I8. It will be understood in the controller i9, as well as the other units of the system, that the showing of conventional circuits is reduced to a minimum for the sake of simplicity. The tubes 3, II, and

Similarly, when desired, and

T f the source i3 is con- Y la may be of the type sliders, and

Y 6C6, Yrespectively, by Way oi example.

In thevoperatio-n of the system, the'electrodes.

Y ofthe tube IIVare respectively energizedrbyrthe controlled source I and the controlling sourceY I3.

`Operating through the tube II and in conjuncfV tion with Vthe rectiers I Sand I6, anni-lateral voltage is developed across the resistance I1 g which is Yproportional to the phase relationship I tube il Vby the sources I and I3.Y This uni-lateral. voltage then operates through the controller tube j of the voltages respectively introduced into' Ythe i8 to supply a voltage shiftedQ'degrees to effect controlling operation with respect tothe tube 3' so thatthe oscillations produced by the sourcei i areelectronically maintained insynchro'ni'za-k said tube, anda circuit extending between said control electrode o-f said second tube and said rectiher system for supplying thereto a uni-lateral Yphaseshifted'voltage proportional tothe phase diilerence of the voltages Vfrom said differentk sources of oscillations introduced mentioned tube.

2. An electronic synchronizing system comprising, a source of controlled oscillations includin said i'lrstf ing an oscillatorV circuit having an -electrontube connected therein, a source of controlling 'oscillations, a mixer electron tube having a plurality:

of .controlV electrodes'` respectively energized by said sources oiY oscillations, an output circuit for said tube, a rectier system operatively connected with said output circuit, a control electron tube tionY or inY step with .then-'oscillations VfromV the Y cillation circuit of the'sour'ce I, other equivalentV j trolling effect.

' in the foregoing, VaV preferred embodiment of sourcew. Althoughges shown, the` controlelec- 1 Ytrode of `tube VI8 isr Vconnected with the controlled oscillatorincluding. tube3 forcontrolling the osarrangements may be employedwithout departing from the intended scope ofthe invention. For example, any suitable form oi biasing control for the tube 3 would also produce the desired con,-

electronic synchronizing system has kbeen presented to illustrate the system forflocking in 30- one frequency with another. Itwill of course be understood Y that various `modiiications Vand changes be made Without departing'from the spirit of the invention..Y Therefore, nolirnitation ofV .control electrodes respectively energized by' vsaid sources of oscillations, an output circuit for said tube, a rectier system operatively connected with said output circuit, a second electron tube having a plurality of electrodes including a controlY electrode and anode; a circuit betweenA said last-mentioned tube and said Voscillator circuit including a plurality of control electrodes and an anode, a' circuit between said control tube and the' tube of said oscillator circuit including a connection between control electrodes of said tubes'and a'connection between the anodes-,of said tubes, and a connection betweenV said rectiiier system and thev other of the control electrodes of said controltube for supplying thereto Va uni-lateral phase shifted voltage proportional to the phase'diiierence of the voltages from said'V different sources of Yoscillations introduced in said mixer tube `whereby the anodeY circuit 'of .saidVV control tube functions as a variable capacitance at high frequenciesV to control the operation of Vsaid oscillator circuit.

3. An electronic synchronizing system. corn,-`

prising, a source or" controlled oscillations includeV Ving an oscillator circuit,V a source of controlling oscillations, an electron tube having a plurality of control electrodes respectively energized by said sources of oscillations, an output circuit for said tube', a rectiner system operatively connected Y with said output circuit, an electron tube' having and including a connection with'said anodeof a plurality of electrodes, one of said electrodes being vconnecte'dwith the output of' said rectier system, and another of said electrodes being connected Withsaid oscillatorcircuit for supplying thereto a uni-lateral phaseshifted Yvoltage proportional to the Yphase difference of the voltages from said different sources of oscillationsintro--V duced in said first-mentioned tube. Y

HENRY R. BUTLER. 

